Kindergarten and 1st grade Painted paper Collage

Way back at the end of September, students painted a 12X18 sheet of white paper with hot colors. Most of them mixed all the colors together to create a lovely, textured orange paper. In October, I cut the papers in half for students to create a pumpkin collage. I still had tons of the paper left over, so I decided to design a project to use up the last of the paper.

I designed this specifically for K, but I am going to use it for 1st grade as well.

At the end of this post, I will explain my modifications for each grade.

Step 1: Demonstrate how to draw the fox with a black crayon. I had my kinders draw this step-by-step with me...since I wanted them to draw this BIG on the 9X12 painted orange paper, I knew that I needed to model this step perfectly. Step 2: Color in the white cheeks with an oil pastel. Also color the black nose and eyes with a black oil pastel (could just use a black crayon). I demonstrated how to add a white highlight on the eyes.Step 3: Cut it out. Be careful not to cut off the nose or ears...if an ear is snipped off, I demonstrated how to use a corner scrap to make a new ear.Step 4: Glue to the 12X12 turquoise background paper. Could use either a glue stick or white glue.Step 5: Explain what a 'speech' bubble is...and how to put it on the paper. Make sure the point, is pointing at the fox. Give a few suggestions for 'what the fox says.' Write the sentence or phrase in sharpie. Sign name on the front in sharpie then glue the speech bubble in place. Step 6: Add black whiskers with a big dot of white glue. I point out where the whiskers should go...and mention that some kids have used the black yarn as eyebrows and eyelashes as well.

When students were finished, I allowed them to color a fox coloring sheet to take home or look at a book. The fox coloring page is from Feed Your Soul Art. Please head over there to print your own free version!

I also allowed them to watch the video during the last few minutes of art. I projected it on the smart board. If they wanted to get up and dance around, I also allowed them to do that. Here it is on YouTube if you haven't seen it.

I asked them PLEASE do NOT torture your classroom teacher with the song all afternoon. PLEASE do not sing it in your classroom!! This was a special treat today, and the classroom teachers will be so mad at me if everyone is singing this song all day.

In the slideshow above, you will notice that I have a few foxes with the body and legs....I tried that with my very first class of kindergarteners...it was super hard for them to cut out the legs...so I changed up the design for kindergarten, and decided that the HEAD only would be best.

For first grade, I will demonstrate BOTH methods and allow them to choose which one they want to do on their painted paper.

This lesson would be best for a 30 minute art time....stretching it out to 50 minutes was a little tough to keep them busy the entire time because they will race through the fox. It might be good to squeeze in a little fox poem or book if you have one. I have 1st grade for one hour, so I will plan an additional activity at the end....

Please let me know if you try this lesson, I would love to see a link to your student work in the comments! Some of you may have seen a sneak peek of this if you follow me on Instagram at nelliemaeii.